THE ETERNAL STYLE OF GRACE KELLY - ELEGANCE, SIMPLICITY, CLASSICS

Considered a benchmark for flawless taste and classical elegance, Grace Kelly has remained in history and has so far had a major impact on fashion trends. Thirty-seven years after the death of the actress, her eternal style is still the subject of research, analysis, and commentary. In her book "World Fashion Icons", Prof. Lubomir Stoykov described the actress as "one of the most beautiful and elegant ladies of all time". In addition to dozens of books, for Princess Grace, films, exhibitions with her accessories, and even Barbie doll have been created in her likeness. How has she won universal love and admiration, and what is the reason for her name being used as a synonym for good taste and style?

Grace Patricia Kelly was born on 12 November 1929 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She comes from a wealthy family and as a child he dreams of becoming an actress. After graduating from school, he moved to New York in 1947, and two years later was her first Broadway attendance. In 1951 she made her debut in cinema with the film "Fourteen Hours" and in 1952 she played her first major role in "High Noon". Her big breakthrough comes when the beautiful Gene Tierney was taken out of the 1952 Mogambo movie, and Grace received her role along with a seven-year deal with Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer. Other emblematic appearances include "To Catch a Thief," "Rear Window”, “The Country Girl”, for which she earns an Oscar and a Golden Globe for best female role.

Aside from Grace Kelly becoming a favorite of Alfred Hitchcock, she drew the attention of Russian fashion designer Oleg Cassini after participating in Mogambo in 1953. Their relationship began after every day Cassini sent her a bouquet of red roses until she accepted his lunch call. The designer claims that he is the one behind her famous style, saying to People's Magazine: "I created the style of Grace Kelly." According to Cassini, when they met, she dressed "as a teacher". He encourages her to "put some sex in her clothes". Speaking of Grace Kelly's style, we cannot fail to mention the names of the people behind her most iconic film suits, and not only.

Edith Head, one of the most influential designers in the Hollywood cinema industry in the 1950s, began working with Kelly for the movie Rear Window. Under the guidance of Alfred Hitchcock, who was uncompromising when it comes to Grace's wardrobe, Edith Head is responsible for the actresses' costumes in "To Catch a Thief" and “Dial M for Murder”. The costume designer also made the famous blue satin dress and coat suitable for her at the Academy Award Ceremony in March 1955, where Grace won Oscar for best actress for her role in The Country Girl. "This dress was considered very different at the time," explains Christina Hoagland (author of Grace Kelly's Style). "Most of the stars were dressed in big, gorgeous dresses, with fur coats, and she wore a simple satin dress with a matching satin coat, and she could see she was dressed very differently from other actresses." However, this dress was Grace's favorite is also dressed at the movie's premiere and a photo shoot for Life magazine. Another favorite actress designer is Helen Rose, who has a very special role in the history of Grace's intransigent style because it is she who creates the most important dress in her life.

On May 6, 1955, Grace Kelly went to the Cannes Film Festival for the premiere of the movie Dial M for Murder, where, thanks to French journalist Pierre Galant, he met with Prince Rainier III. a photo shoot for Paris Match magazine, for which Grace poses on board a yacht dressed in capri pants - a vision that is part of her famous style On January 6, 1956, the couple announced their engagement at a charity ball at the " Waldorf-Astoria. " For this reason, the future princess bears a dress at points of the American brand "New York Branel" and, of course, a 10.47 carat diamond engagement ring "Cartier".

After announcing her engagement with Prince Rainier III, her interest in the actress grew even stronger, as her clothing became the object of her greatest curiosity. Realizing the situation, Grace used this as an opportunity to boost the fashion industry in America. Arriving in Monaco, for example, she wears a dark blue coat and a sleeveless dress from American designer Ben Zuckerman. In December 1955, Women's Wear Daily magazine released an article on the possibilities that Grace Kelly's style provides to the fashion industry and soon it is everywhere, including shop windows.

The wedding of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier III took place on April 19, 1956. In return for terminating his contract with the studio, Kelly provides Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer with the exclusive rights to capture the event. Although the complex religious ceremony attracts much of the attention and has been observed by about 30 million viewers, Grace and the Prince conclude a civil marriage the day before. Both wedding dresses are Helen Rose and a special gift from Metro-Goldwyn-Meyer. The wedding dress that Grace wore at the religious ceremony was made by 30 tailors in six weeks, created by 125-year-old Brussels lace, taffeta and pearls. Instead of Tiara, the actress bears a golden floral hat and a prayer book decorated with pearls, a gift from the movie studio again. Fifty years later this wedding vision remains one of the most elegant and most memorable of all times. For the private civil ceremony held the previous day, Helen Rose made a pink suit in Grace's Grace in two parts. Of course, the actress did not stay long in this outfit and dressed in another tea dress to accept public congratulations at the subsequent press conference. A few hours later he enters his last look of the day - a white silk dress of Lanvin, a tiara and a necklace with rubies and diamonds.

After her wedding, Grace must stop working as an actress. Although her old director, Alfred Hitchcock, never gives up the idea of making her play another film, the citizens of Monaco and the local press enslave the idea of their princess returning to the screen. Although she only starred in eleven films before retiring from acting at age 26, she remains one of the greatest movie icons of all time.

Princess Grace never cheated on her style. Aside from the cameras, she stabs a minimal bourgeois style with a cashmere top of "Pringle of Scotland", elegant simple pearls, Hermes silk ruffles, sunglasses with round or horned frames, and Gucci mocha and sometimes George Henry Bass ". For a long time in Monaco women were not to wear trousers and were generally accepted to wear hats in the palace, but Princess Grace had often been photographed in violation of these rules, so they later dropped out. "She realized her image of the Princess of Monaco, but she was careful that her family would not stick to official standards. She liked the hats themselves, but as the hats began to disappear from fashion and were no longer mandatory, the rule was ultimately relaxed. "According to Christina Hoagland (author of "Grace Kelly's Style").

Over the years, Grace Kelly's influence on fashion has been enormous. Thanks to it, the era of "Dior" begins - "New Look" and it is the one that inspires the eternal model of "Gucci" - "Flora". Hermes's bag, named Kelly, is becoming one of the world's most sought after luxury products after the princess tries to cover up her first pregnancy with the accessory.

Although Grace Kelly was a princess with direct access to designers of major brands such as Dior, Gucci and Chanel, she never showed unnecessary extravagance and has been wearing her favorite clothes for decades, while few leading ladies in Hollywood have been seen with the same clothing twice. In addition to his famous satin dress made by Edith Head, Kelly repeatedly brings some of his dresses from Oleg Cassini and Mark Boan, and with his coat made by Ben Zukerman, she has been dressed for years.

The princess has three children - two daughters and a son. First, her daughter Caroline (1957) was born, then her son Albert (1958), and the youngest was their daughter Stephanie (1965). Grace Kelly died on September 14, 1982 at the age of 52, after receiving a stroke while behind the wheel of her car. Her daughter Stephanie is also in the car, but survives the clash.

In spite of her early death, Princess Grace will always be in her story with her classic and elegant approach to dressing. Thirty-seven years after her death, she still serves the role of high-class ladies such as Kate Middleton, inspiring world designers and brands like Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Vera Wang, Carolina Herrera, and Tommy Hilfiger. Karl Lagerfeld himself defines the actress as "the most beautiful blonde for her time".

"Today Princess Grace Kelly is a symbol of elegance of the highest class, aristocracy and emancipation," Prof. Lubomir Stoykov writes in his book "World Fashion Icons". "Her style continues to conquer with her perfection, because the standards of sophistication, beauty and perfect looks introduced by Grace Kelly are truly immortal."

Photos:
1. Grace Kelly.
Photo: Rex USA / https://www.harpersbazaar.com
2. Grace Kelly Wins Oscar for Best Actress, 1955
Photo: Rex / https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/kellys-regrets
3. Grace Kelly with Alfred Hitchcock and James Stewart during the filming of "Rear Window".
Photo: © Universal Studios / https://the.hitchcock.zone/wik
4. Grace Kelly and Oleg Cassini at the premiere of the film Désirée, 1954
Photo: Rex / https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/kellys-regrets
5. Grace Kelly with Oleg Cassini's favorite dress, photo shoot for "Cosmopolitan", 1955
Photo: Erwin Blumenfeld / https://kinoimages.wordpress.com/2018/07/11
6. Grace Kelly Dressed by Edith Head for the Rear Window movie, 1954
Photo: Rex / https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1258314
7. Grace Kelly dressed as Edith Head for the cover of Life magazine.
Photo: Philippe Halsman / https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1258314
8. Grace Kelly shot a photo shoot for "Paris Match", Cannes 1955
Photo: Rex / https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/kellys-regrets
9. The first meeting of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III, Cannes 1955
Photo: SOURCE GLOBE PHOTOS / IMAGE COLLECT / https://www.sy.com
10. Grace Kelly, announces her engagement.
Photo: SNAP / REX FEATURES / https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/kellys-regrets
11. Grace Kelly with her wedding dress, made by Helen Rose.
Photo: Rex / https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/kellys-regrets
12. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III at the Civil Ceremony. Princess Grace is dressed in a Helen Rose dress.
Photo: SNAP / REX FEATURES / https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/kellys-regrets
13. Daily Style by Grace Kelly.
Photo: PARAMOUNT / http://forums.filmnoirbuff.com/view
14. Grace Kelly with Hermes' purse, which is named after her.
Photo: Rex / https://www.vogue.co.uk/gallery/kellys-regrets
15. Grace Kelly arrives in Monaco dressed in Ben Zuckerman's favorite coat.
Photo: Kees Scherer / https://www.pinterest.fr/pin/366199013433998733/
16. Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier III with their three children - Caroline, Albert and Stephanie.
Photo: Rex / https://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/you/article-1258314
17. Pictures of the wedding dresses of Princess Grace and Kate Middleton.
Photo:
1 - Rex / https://www.telegraph.co.uk/fashion/people 2 - PA / https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news

Sources:
Stoykov, Lubomir. World Fashion Icons, Alma Communication, Sofia, 2017
https://www.harpersbazaar.com
http://www.instyle.co.uk
http://www.marieclaire.co.uk
https://www.vanityfair.com
https://www.telegraph.co.uk
https://www.today.com
https://www.vogue.co.uk

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